QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB

FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
 
 

WEATHER – Fine    TRACK RATING – Soft 5RAIL – Out 8 metres 1,000 metres to Winning Post / Out 4 metres for the remainder.
PENETROMETER – 5.68

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – D Griffiths
Stewards – R Neal, S Nosworthy and P Warren.
 
GENERAL
 
General –.
1.    Barrier Attendant Mr Peter Nielson was injured during the loading process of race 1 and was transported to the Townsville Hospital with a suspected broken wrist.
 
2.    Stewards spoke with the senior riding group following the running of Race 7 regarding interference suffered by several runners when the field traversed from the 1,000-metre chute onto the course proper. It was noted that the absence of a guide rail at this point of the track contributed to horses not being correctly positioned when leaving the false rail positioned from the barrier onto the course proper, shifting ground and causing tightening to those runners racing to their inside. The matter has been referred to the Townsville Turf Club for consideration of remedial measures.
 


RACE 1: LADBROKES FORM GENIUS MAIDEN PLATE      1609 M

COMBAT CRUSADER – Bumped shortly after the start. Raced three wide without cover from the 1,000 metres.

CRYPTOLOGY – Raced greenly and laid out on jumping, bumping with COMBAT CRUSADER and became unbalanced for a short distance.

GEE UP – Bumped with COMBAT CRUSADER near the 400 metres, then laid in onto GONCALO which was hampered and had to steady. Rider Ron Stewart was advised that, notwithstanding GEE UP’s tendency to lay in, he is expected to straighten his mounts sooner when in similar circumstances.

GONCALO – Lost the near fore plate shortly after the start. It was crowded near 400 metres and had to steady.

MOHAWK WARRIOR – Raced wide throughout.

NATIONAL GOAL – Slow to begin from a wide barrier. Improved onto heels near the 400 metres.

TRUSTING STAR – Raced three wide with cover in the early stages.

MISS COMANECI – Raced wide through the middle stages.
 

RACE 2: LADBROKES MATES MODE POTS QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD HANDICAP 1000 M

TARONG – Commenced to race ungenerously leaving the 800 metres and was taken wider. Raced greenly for the remainder of the event. Bumped with MISTER TIA passing the 400 metres and again near the 100 metres.

MISTER TIA – Began awkwardly. Laid out near the 400 metres and bumped with TARONG. Bumped again with TARONG passing the 100 metres.

RAFF VADER – Changed stride leaving the 400 metres and became briefly unbalanced. On return to scale, jockey Ryan Wiggins expressed concern with the gelding’s action. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 

RACE 3: LADBROKES ODDS SURGE BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP    1200 M

DEALING’S DONE – Slow into stride.

BURRANEER BUOY – Slow to begin.

SPIRIT OF GIVING – Slow to begin.

TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Slow to begin. Shifted out abruptly passing the 100 meters.

GOODNIGHT ROMEO – Raced three wide for the majority. Laid in momentarily passing the 600 metres and had to be straightened.

HIT SNOOZE – Began very awkwardly and lost ground. Got its head up and raced ungenerously from the 1,000 metres until leaving the 800 metres.
 

RACE 4: HYGAIN CLASS 2 PLATE      1200 M

AGED CARE – jumped in abruptly at the start hampering DIAMOND LUCY.
 
INDEFINITE (NZ) was declared a late scratching at 2:54pm after being found to be lame in the off-front when examined at the barriers. Trainer Mr Steven Royes was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to INDEFINITE (NZ) next racing.
On the announcement of correct weight Stewards ordered that all monies invested on INDEFINITE (NZ) be refunded, with the following deductions to apply to successful wagers placed prior to 2:54pm.
Stewards ordered that the following deductions would apply:
 
1st - PRIDE OF VENUS 12 cents win / 12 cents place.
2nd - AGED CARE - 7 cents place.
3rd - COLOURS OF AUTUMN - 7 cents place.

FONEELEVEN – shifted in when entering the turn near the 1,050 metres when not clear of WHATTA MISSION which was checked. Rider Ivo Fry defended a charge of careless riding under AR131a. After consideration, the charged was found proven and rider Fry’s licence to ride in races was suspended from the close of racing today up to and including racing on Saturday 27th September 2025.
 
DIAMOND LUCY – hampered on jumping and lost ground.
 
WHATTA MISSION – tightened and checked losing ground entering the turn near the 1,050 metres.
 

RACE 5: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP       1609 M

JOE’S GIGGLE – Raced three wide in the early stages.

KING’S CASTLE (FR) – Slow to begin.

MORDECAI – Slow to begin.

AL RAS BLUES – Change of tactics notified to be ridden further forward. Ridden accordingly. Raced three wide in the early stages before being taken forward to lead passing the 1,100 metres.

CONVERTOR – Raced wide rounding the first turn.

SHARMAN PETE – Raced keenly in the early stages. Improved onto heels passing the 800 metres and had to be steadied.

BERNICE’S SPIRIT – Raced in restricted room from the 600 metres when inside STORE BEACH, which was laying in; crowded and had to steady passing the 400 metres.

STORE BEACH – Rider Nathan Thomas reported that the gelding laid in throughout; shifted in passing the 400 metres crowding BERNICE’S SPIRIT which had to steady.
 

RACE 6: MITAVITE RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP         1000 M

SOWILO SIREN – shifted ground over the final stages and shortly after the finish bumped with PURPOSE 'N' VISION which in turn shifted out onto CRAICARO. Apprentice Tyler Leslight was advised to take greater care when his mounts commenced to shift ground.
 
CALM IS POWER – began awkwardly and shifted in bumping with SWEET CANDY which in turn was taken inward onto SOWILO SIREN which was also contacted.
 
MARGOT BARBIE – bumped at the start; 3-wide without cover throughout.
 
BRAVE INTENT – slow to begin.
 
TORQUE OF DREAMS – began awkwardly and ran in after the start, losing ground; hung in approaching the 800 metres and contacted the running rail when racing ungenerously.
 
MR KOBO – jumped out at the start and bumped MARGOT BARBIE ; rider Tasha Chambers pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(ii) in that she used her whip on 10 occasions prior to the 100m, 12 times in totality. Jockey Chambers licence to ride in races was suspended from the conclusion of racing on Saturday 27th September 2025 up to and including racing on Sunday 5th October 2025 (8 days)
 

RACE 7: NEXT MEETING SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER OPEN HANDICAP       1000 M

OUTBACK ACTION – stood flat-footed and was slow to begin. Made heavy contact with the running rail when joining the course proper near the 900 metres and became unbalanced, losing ground.
 
OVERLORD – Hampered at the start and settled back. Held up rounding the home turn and had difficulty obtaining clear running throughout the home straight. Stewards questioned rider Adam Sewell regarding his riding of OVERLORD, which, after settling back, made ground well over the latter stages. Rider Sewell explained that after being hampered at the start and settling back, he was further inconvenienced when the three runners immediately ahead failed to carry him into the race passing the 600 metres. He added that, rather than being forced to make his finishing run wide on the track, he elected to wait for a run to develop closer to the inside and consequently such run did fully eventuate. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
FODOR – When questioned regarding the performance of FODOR, which raced below market expectations, rider Ryan Wiggins stated that after being placed under pressure passing the 400 metres the gelding failed to finish the race off and only battled over the concluding stages. He further advised that FODOR would take improvement from the run, this being its first start in approximately six months. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
MR METRICS – began awkwardly.
 
HIGHBAR- shifted in and hampered OVERLORD; raced wide throughout.
 
KING JESTER - contacted the running rail when joining the course proper near the 900 metres and became unbalanced.
 
TIME TO PROPHET – raced wide without cover throughout.
 

RACE 8: PALLARENDA STAKES 25TH OCTOBER CLASS 5 HANDICAP  1400 M

BELLACIAOCIAO (FR) – Raced wide with cover throughout.
 
JOHN JOSEPH – Raced wide in the initial stages.
 
ARCTIC BEAR – Bounded in the air on jumping.
 
KING'S HALO – Bumped at the start; raced 3-wide without cover throughout.
 
MOOLOOLABA (NZ) – No reportable incidents.
 
READY TIGER – Shifted in on jumping and bumped with KING'S HALO; raced 4-wide without cover throughout. Rider Talia Fenlon reported that she struck her right foot on the barriers when the start was affected.
 
BLUE STEEL – Contacted the barriers on jumping and lost ground.
 
SKYWRITER – Slow to begin.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 

Summary of action concerning licensees

Suspensions
R4: Ivo Fry [AR131a] – careless riding – suspended 20th September to 27th (inclusive)
R6: Tasha Chambers [AR132(7)(a)(ii)] – suspended 28th September 2025 to 5th October 2025 (Inclusive)
 
Summary of whip use
 
The Stewards noted the following riders exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100m under AR132(7)(a)(ii):
 
Race 1
Tasha Chambers (IRISH GIFT)
8 Strikes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Given the totality of whip use, no action was taken.
 

Race day injuries/illness
Barrier Attendant Mr Peter Nielson


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race: CRYPTOLOGY; SPIRIT OF GIVING; GOODNIGHT ROMEO: INDEFINITE (NZ); AL RAS BLUES; TIPPED OFF.

Horses swabbed post-race: All winners.

Warnings/bars; R4 - INDEFINITE (NZ) – veterinary clearance required.

Bleeders
nil

Falls
Nil

Adjourned inquiries
Nil

Protests
Nil

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 Nil

Late scratching’s
R4 - INDEFINITE (NZ)


The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews, and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its website.

 This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.